Loving Charley

by Casey Peeler

  Joe turns to me. “Do you want to go?”

  “I’d love to, but I’m not sure. Since I have to go back home next week for court, I might need to stay here, but… I don’t want you to have to go by yourself. Let me think it over.”

  Joe finishes talking to Piper and hands me the phone again. She tells me to stay at Southern. She knows that I’m torn, and knowing her, she honestly wants alone time with Joe, and who can blame her?

  After I hang up with Piper, Joe and I really talk about what he thinks will happen. He was honest with Piper, but he did say things might get a little messy if Blanton doesn’t listen. Then, he realizes it would be better if I stayed away. I don’t need to be involved with anything Dylan related until this hearing is over.

  Joe returns to his dorm, and I call Cash and fill him in. He’s not happy to say the least. In fact, he thinks we both should go with Joe. I demand that we don’t because we can’t risk what conflict it could cause for next Thursday. He agrees unwillingly.

  Spending the remainder of my Sunday keeping myself busy, I rearrange my room, clean, grocery shop, and map out my week. It’s going to be a nerve-racking week for not only me but also everyone I know. The next eleven days are going to build more and more anxiety of going home and walking into that courthouse to face Dylan Sloan.

  Surprisingly, the week flies by, and I meet Joe after class on Friday before he leaves to go see Piper. My body feels like it has been wadded up, tossed around, and put back together as he leaves. I’m terrified of the possible outcomes for him tomorrow. He has so much going for him; I just hope his past doesn’t come back to haunt him.

  “Hey, can you give this to her?” I ask Joe as I pass him a small bag.

  He looks at me with a smirk. “Fun Dip? Choice Cherry Gold?”

  “Yup, it’s kinda our thing. They make everything better. If I can’t be there, these are the next best things,” I say with a shoulder shrug.

  “Oh, really? I thought I was the next best thing!”

  “You’re probably right, but this is my way of being there. Now, take care of her.”

  Joe gives me a hug, and I push back the tears as he gets into his Jeep. As Joe pulls away, I go and sit at the picnic table to clear my head. I pull out my phone and text Cash. I need to see him. It’s not a want. I need him to hold me.

  Me: Whatcha doin’ Cash $?

  After what feels like forever, he replies.

  Cash: Sorry, I was putting a new belt on the tractor. What’s up?

  Me: I need you.

  My phone rings. As I connect, he is already speaking.

  “What do you mean you need me?” he asks with worry in his voice.

  “Cash Money, I need you.”

  “Oh my lord, Char-coal. I was about to haul ass to the truck! You can’t text things like that.”

  “What? Just ‘cause I’m not in trouble you’re not gonna come to my rescue?”

  “Oh, I’ll come to your rescue, but you better really need me.”

  “You know what I need? I need your strong, hard working, and perfectly sculpted arms wrapped around me when I close my eyes tonight. Do you think that’s possible?”

  A low growl escapes his voice like he is fighting an inner battle. “Char-coal, I can’t. I have to stay home and help my parents this weekend. I know it’s the last weekend before everything, but I owe it to them, especially since I don’t know what will happen after Thursday. Dad has me going to a sale this weekend with him, and then making sure everything is in line to get ready to plant over the next couple of weeks. I’m so sorry.”

  My heart sinks a little, but I also know that he’s speaking the truth. He has a major role on the farm, and if he does have to do time, he can’t leave his dad high and dry.

  “I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand,” I say with sadness in my voice.

  “Believe me. If I had a choice between selling cattle or lying next to you tonight… the cows win hands down.” He tries to say it seriously.

  “Cash Porter Montgomery, no, you just didn’t!”

  He bursts out laughing. “You’re right. I’d choose you hands down no matter the other choice.”

  “Even if it was Carrie Underwood?”

  “Damn straight, I’d choose you over her. Because for me, she’s not perfect, and you are perfect for me.”

  My heart melts once again for Cash Money. We talk for a few minutes before I let him get back to work, and I promise to have a good time this weekend.

  As I walk upstairs, Caroline and Georgia are standing in the hallway. They are propped against the wall with their arms crossed like they are ready to pounce on somebody.

  “Um, are y’all okay?” I ask.

  “Hell no, we aren’t! What’s going on with Joe?” Caroline quizzes.

  “What do you mean? He’s going to see Piper,” I say nonchalantly.

  Georgia pushes herself off the wall, thinks, and then speaks, “You better tell me why he’s going. Something’s up… I can feel it.”

  “Come on. I need some Fun Dip and a Choice Cherry Gold,” I say as I walk back into my room.

  “Oh, shit. This ain’t good!” Georgia states as they follow me into the room, grabbing their own Fun Dip and drink.

  “Spill it!” Caroline announces.

  “Okay, I didn’t want y’all to worry, but someone’s messin’ with Piper. Joe and I have put the pieces together, and he pretty much is going to let the guy know it this weekend. Nothing major, but I didn’t want to go because it can cause issues next week.”

  “Nothin’ major, my ass! I can’t believe you think Georgia and I would buy this bullshit,” Caroline says loudly.

  At this point, I know I can’t hide anything from these two. Out of everyone, they are the most like me. “Fine. It’s a guy named Blanton Marks. I don’t know him, but he grew up with Trent. He’s been makin’ moves on Piper and her friends for a while, but this past weekend, he totally freaked her out. We’ve been trying to keep her from worrying, but Joe and I knew something wasn’t right. Between my knowledge of Grassy Pond and Joe being there Senior Week, we were able to figure it out. I guess you’d say he and Joe are acquaintances. He’s hoping to tell him the game’s over. I’m just praying that he doesn’t get himself in trouble. He can’t afford for that to happen.”

  “What do you mean he can’t afford to get in trouble?” Caroline questions.

  “That’s a story for another day. Just know that Joe’s had it rough growing up. He’s the perfect image of what a pretty boy would be like, but life’s not always been nice to him. He’s lucky Southern gave him a shot. Not to mention, he has one kick-ass grandma who believed in him when everyone else tossed him to the side.”

  Georgia and Caroline’s eyes float back between each other’s. “Y’all, it’s okay. This weekend is going to be epic, and after next week, I’ll have my life back!”

  “Char, you do know that it could get continued, or they might actually have to take it to trial, right?” Georgia says, stating what I’ve been thinking.

  I don’t want to think about that. I just want to have my life back, and I want Thursday to be that day. I have to testify in court, lay all my business out for everyone to hear, and after that point, if I have to do it again, I will, but I will be free regardless of whether the decision has been made.

  “I know, Caroline, but once I say this out loud, for me, I will be free. When I told the police, it was hard, but after I did, it felt like an elephant was lifted off me.”

  “I gotcha. So, what are we going to do to make this weekend one we don’t forget?”

  We sit there a minute racking our brains before Caroline jumps up and gets beyond excited. “I’ve got an idea! Y’all know how much fun Hank’s is on Saturday, right? What if we create our own club here tonight?”

  “You do realize we could all get kicked out for something like that, don’t you?” I state.

  “Y’all know as well as I do that Mr. Wannabe Cop isn’t going to do anything. Now, ou
r RA could be another story, but y’all know she’s got some nerd in her life now and hasn’t been around as much,” Caroline informs us.

  “She’s got a point, Charley. We can totally get away with it, and you know the guys’ RA downstairs couldn’t care less.”

  Knowing that this will be a night to remember, I agree. “Sounds like a plan to me. Let’s tell the rest of the Kluft girls. We have less than eight hours to turn this place into a club.”

  We go to Tori’s room and tell them our idea. They are game, so we make our to-do list while Tori calls their beer guy. We decide how we are going to decorate and then rummage through our rooms to see what we can find. Each of us brings the items into the hall. When we look around, we don’t have much of anything except a disco ball, three sets of sheer purple curtains, a cooler, leftover Christmas party decorations, and that’s about it.

  “You guys, I think we’re going to have to do better than this! We need to go to shopping or at least to the dollar store,” Anna states the obvious.

  “We can roll with this,” Tori says. “I’m thinkin’ use what we have and then make a trip.”

  We plan out where we will hang the curtains, old decorations, and whatever else we can find. Then, we cut off the lights and turn on the disco ball. Pretty impressive to say the least.

  Georgia starts to laugh. “It looks like someone threw up purple in here!”

  “Yeah, it looks like either My Little Pony or a Care Bear took over.” Tori cackles.

  “Yeah, Club Purple! The place to dance like no one’s watching and leave everything to the imagination!” Anna says a little too seductively.

  “Ohmygosh, y’all, that is freakin’ hilarious!” I say with a laugh.

  With time to spare, we turn off the disco light and order pizza while we get ready. We all send texts to everybody we know. Tonight is going to be a blast. I have a group of great friends that make their own fun, and I wouldn’t change my world right now if my life depended on it!

  With the sun starting to set, I call Cash. By now, he should be in from working or at least I hope so. Crap! I remember that he’s gone with his dad to the sale. He might be gone all night. I send him a quick text and finish getting ready. I can’t wait to see him Thursday, even if it’s not under the best circumstances. Any moment I spend with him is better than nothing at all. When he replies, a smile spreads across my face, but it doesn’t last long because I hear a light knock at my door.

  “Come in,” I say as I turn around and stand in shock when the door opens. Cash Money is standing before me with a bouquet of wild flowers. “I…I…” is all I can utter.

  He takes a step closer as he hands me the flowers. The smell of fresh-cut flowers mixed with his recently showered scent is enough to drive me crazy. Taking the flowers from him, I manage to speak, “They’re beautiful, but I thought you had to stay home.”

  He gives me a smirk as he answers, “Let’s just say I have to be back really early tomorrow, but the thought of seeing you for even just a minute was better than none at all.”

  Throwing my arms around his neck, I say, “I love you, Cash Money. I love you with all my heart!” Happy tears begin to fall.

  His lips press against mine, and he replies between kisses, “I. Love. You. Too.”

  “Ohmygosh! I just can’t believe you’re here!” I squeal.

  “Well, believe it! I’m gonna hold you tonight just like you needed, but I have to be back home by six a.m.”

  “Cash! That means you’ll have to leave by four-thirty!”

  “I know, but we are worth it.”

  “Damn right, we are,” I say as I devour his lips one more time before being interrupted by Caroline who doesn’t even bother to knock.

  “Oh, shit! Um…sorry, y’all! Hey, Cash! Um…” She turns and closes the door. The mood is now ruined, but the night is not. This is going to be a fabulous Friday night. I’ve got the love of my life, Club Purple, and the Kluft girls. Now, if only my best friend and the love of her life are safe, my night will be complete.

  Chapter 24

  Tori turns up the stereo as the music begins to pump through the hallway. Cash and I have yet to venture out of my room, but I’m about to starve. I’m pretty certain all the pizza is gone, or if not, it’s some nasty supreme! Yuck! Surprisingly, they have saved me a few slices of pepperoni that Cash and I share.

  “It’s not a famous PB&J, but it will have to do,” I say playfully.

  As the nighttime hour begins to roll around, so do the people. Anyone that is everyone on campus is here. Tori and Caroline use their rooms to hide the booze. Just as things are starting to crank up, Mr. Wannabe Cop strolls through.

  “Ladies, I’m afraid I’m going to have to shut it down,” he says.

  Anna turns on her charm as she approaches him. “Oh, Officer, please don’t ruin our fun! We’ve worked so hard on Club Purple!” She then gives him a pouty lip. We all look at each other and almost burst at the seams.

  He falls right into her hand. “Well, I guess I can let it slide for now, but by midnight, I want the music off.”

  “Yes, sir,” she replies and bats her eyelashes.

  He strolls through the room and stops directly in front of Tori’s room with the door wide damn open. Shit! “Whose room is this?” he demands.

  Tori starts to speak, but Anna comes to her rescue. “Mine. Oops. Guess we should hide that better.”

  “I believe that you should. I will, however, let this slide if I can get one of those to have as soon as I’m off duty.” He points toward the beer.

  “Sure! But you know you can drink it on duty, and we won’t tell a soul,” she whispers with a wink.

  He takes the beer, slides it into his pocket, winks at Anna, and makes his way out of the dorm.

  “Y’all are bad!” Cash states with his arms crossed.

  “No, she is bad,” Caroline says, “but it sure is nice to have her around!”

  “Hey, is that all I’m good for?” Anna asks with her hands on her hips.

  “No, you’re good for getting free beer, too!” Tori exclaims.

  “I always get what I want!” she says as she sways down the hallway toward a baseball player that has her name written all over him. He doesn’t know what he’s about to get himself into.

  Club Purple is a night full of music, laughter, fun, drinking, and forgetting about what the future holds. By eleven o’clock, we can’t even move down the hallway. Couples are bumpin’ and grindin’ to the music, people are making out against the walls, and the Kluft girls know that we have pulled off the dorm party of the year.

  Cash and I never leave each other’s side; we dance, laugh, and make out like every other couple in the hallway. The fact that I know he has to leave soon makes me sad, and he must read it on my face.

  “Char-coal, don’t be sad. Be glad that we are here in this moment.”

  “Oh, I am, but I don’t want it to end,” I say as my hands slide up his washboard stomach.

  “Me either. Just think. This time next week I can spend as much time with you as possible.”

  “Now, how am I gonna finish the semester with you as a distraction?” I ask.

  “Oh, so now I’m the distraction? I thought it was the opposite way around.” That’s when the stereo begins to slow, and we hear our song. We stop, look toward my friends, and then look back to each other. We forget that there are others around us, and we dance like no one is watching. Before the song ends, we are brought back to the reality that we aren’t alone when some jackass yells for us to get a room, and that’s exactly what we do. We make our way to my room and close the door. Now, I have Cash Money all to myself for the next couple of hours, and I plan on using that to my advantage.

  As the door shuts, Cash uses one hand to lock the door while the other continues to hold me close to him. With no chance of interruption, Cash and I fall deeper and deeper in tune with each other. Every kiss of his is met perfectly with a kiss of mine. We don’t talk, but tell each other e
xactly what we are feeling with our physical movements.

  Cash teases me, and I tease him right back. I know in my heart of hearts that Cash isn’t going to cross that line, so tonight I don’t even try to force him. I play his game, and by the time we are finished playing, we are both out of breath and content with each other.

  We lie on my bed and hold each other. As I look at the clock, I know that he needs to go to sleep. He has a long drive and day ahead of him. I’d never forgive myself if something happened to him. Before long, his breathing slows, and he drifts off to sleep. Glancing over my shoulder, I watch him, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.

  At some point, I can no longer keep my eyes open, but I’m pulled from my sleep by the sound of Cash’s alarm. He doesn’t hit Snooze, but he does take a minute to hold me a little tighter before he slides out of bed and puts his jeans back on. He grabs a Choice Cherry Gold from the fridge and sits on the side of the bed.

  Running his hand through my hair, he kisses my cheek. “I love you, Char-coal. Thank you for being my forever.” He kisses me sweetly again before he stands.

  Grabbing his hand, I pull him back to the bed, leaving him with a kiss he won’t forget. Then, as quickly as he surprised me last night, he’s gone, and my bed feels empty without him. I toss and turn until the sun begins to rise. I know there is no point in trying to sleep, so I do the only thing that can clear my mind. I pull out my swimsuit and toss it into my bag along with a towel. I knock on Georgia’s door, and she answers half asleep.

  “I’m going to the pool. I need to clear my head,” I state.

  “Hold on, and I’ll go with ya,” she says.

  “You don’t have to. I just wanted to let someone know where I was going.”

  “Nah, hold on. I’m going, too.” Seriously, I don’t need someone to go with me. I just want to clear my head, but if I have a tagalong, I’d rather have Georgia than anyone else.

  I hear her stumble and then talk to someone. OMG! I bet Tucker is in there! She emerges from her room a little later.

  “Who’s in there?” I question as she shrugs her shoulders. “It’s Tucker!” Her face turns bright red. “You know you don’t have to go.”